Fluid meter

ABSTRACT

A FLUID METER OF THE POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT TYPE COMPRISING AN OUTER CASING, A MEASURING CHAMBER UNIT DEFINING A MEASURING CHAMBER MOUNTED IN THE CASING, FLUID INLET AND OUTLET PORTS COMMUNICATING WITH THE MEASURING CHAMBER AND A PISTON ASSEMBLY MOUNTED IN THE MEASURING CHAMBER OPERABLE TO BE DISPLACED UPON FLOW OF FLUID THERETHROUGH, THE PISTON ASSEMBLY BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH INDICATOR MEANS TO INDICATE AT LEAST RATE OF FLUID FLOW THROUGH THE METER. IN THE ILLUSTRATED FORM OF THE INVENTION, THE PISTON ASSEMBLY COMPRISES A NUTATING DISC WHICH IS MOUNTED ON A SMALL BALL PIVOT, THE PISTON ASSEMBLY PREFERABLY HAVING APPROXIMATELY THE SAME SPECIFIC GRAVITY AS THE FLUID BEING METERED THEREBY TO IMPROVE THE ACCURACY OF THE METER. THE FLUID METER MAY INCLUDE A COMPENSATOR PORT PROVIDING DIRECT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE INLET AND OUT LET PORTS, THE FLOW AREA OF WHICH MAY BE SELECTIVELY VARIED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR ACCURATELY CALIBRATING THE METER. OTHER FEATURES OF THE INVENTION INCLUDE MEAS FOR READING FLOW RATE AND TOTAL FLOW AT A REMOTE LOCATION. THE MEANS FOR REMOTELY READING THE FLOW RATE MAY INCLUDE A LEVER CONNECTED TO THE INDICATOR MEANS, A SPRING BIASED FLAPPER ADAPTED TO BE PIVOTED BY THE LEVER UPON CHANGES IN RATE OF FLOW, A NOZZLE HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING CONFRONTING THE FLAPPER CONNECTED THROUGH A PNEUMATIC LINE TO A REMOT READ-OUT FOR SENSING PRESSURE CHANGES IN THE NOZZLE TIP.

Feb. 23, A VARGA 3,564,91g

FLUID METER #M4 www? ATTYS Feb. 213, 1971 A VARGA 3,564,919

FLUID METER Filed Aug. 25, 1967 FIGB. 5

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORL BY ANDREW VARGA f-W/My ATTYS- Feb. 23, 1971 Filed Aug. 25, 1967 A VA RGA FLUID METER 4 Sheets-Sheet s mv'emon: BY ANDREW VARGA www? www' ATT YS.

Feb. 23, 197i A VARGA 3,564,99

FLUID METER Filed Aug. 25, 1967 l 4 sheets-sheet 4 FIGS* FIG. IO,

To REMOTE |ND|cAToR+ T QUWQW Vla@ or dc,

ZZ4 ZZ FIGII.

FIG. I2. W

' 555 ifa 55W 4 FIGA lg /lai INVETOR: ANDREW VA PGA ATTYS.

United States Patent O 3,564,919 FLUID METER Andrew Varga, 1603 E. Cardeza St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19150 Filed Aug. 25, 1967, Ser. No. 663,265 Int. Cl. G01f 3/12 U.S. Cl. 73-258 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fluid meter of the positive displacement type cornprising an outer casing, a measuring chamber unit deiining a measuring chamber mounted in the casing, fluid inlet and outlet ports communicating with the measuring chamber and a piston assembly mounted in the measuring chamber operable to be displaced upon flow of fluid therethrough, the piston assembly being operatively connected with indicator means to indicate at least rate of fluid flow through the meter. In the illustrated form of the invention, the piston assembly comprises a nutating disc which is mounted on a small ball pivot, the piston assembly preferably having approximately the same specific gravity as the fluid being metered thereby to improve the accuracy of the meter. The fluid meter may include a compensator port providing direct communication between the inlet and outlet ports, the ow area of which may be selectively varied to provide a means for accurately Calibrating the meter. Other features of the invention include means for reading ow rate and total ow at a remote location. The means for remotely reading the flow rate may include a lever connected to the indicator means, a spring biased apper adapted to be pivoted by the lever upon changes in rate of ilow, a nozzle having a discharge opening confronting the apper connected through a pneumatic line to a remote read-out for sensing pressure changes in the nozzle tip.

ln general the design features of this invention are directed to increase accuracy, to reduce to a minimum friction forces of nutation or oscillation, iluid pressure drops and to extend the application of the fluid meter which is basically a primary flow sensor.

The present invention relates to improvements in uid meters of the positive displacement type and more particularly to improvements in uid meters of the nutating disc type and applicable to the oscillating piston type.

These uid meters generally comprise an outer casing having an inlet port and a discharge port communicating with a separable measuringchamber and a disc piston mounted in the chamber which moves With a nutating motion between inverted conical top and bottom Walls of the chamber upon flow of a fluid through the measuring chamber. The nutating disc is usually operatively connected with a register mechanism which totals the flow through the measuring chamber in response to nutating motion of the disc. More specifically the nutating disc generally is carried by a ball support which engages in a seat at the center of the `measuring chamber, the ball support mounting a spindle Which describes 3,564,919 Patented Feb. 23, 1971 a circular path as the disc nutates and transmits this motion usually through cooperating magnets to operate a counting pointer and a straight counter indicating total quantity of iluid through the meter.

The above type of positive displacement uid meters are commonly used as water meters and in these applications as Well as other applications, it is extremely essential that the meter have a high degree of measuring accuracy. However, it has been found that meters of this type on the market have limited reliability and accuracy particularly at low ilow rates. This problem is evidenced by reason of the fact that the AWWA M6 standards consider a meter having accuracy as an acceptable meter for use in the eld. Obviously inaccuracy of the meter to register precise quantities of fluid such as Water delivered, presents certain problems. lf the indicated quantity of ow is less than the actual quantity, then, of course, the Water suppliers are not being compensated for the precise quantity of Water delivered, On the other hand, if the registered quantity is greater than the actual quantity delivered, then the user is paying more for Water delivered than is just. In either event, the accuracy of the meter is an important factor. Measuring accuracy is just as important in other uses of this type of meter particularly where the meters are used in a system to meter predetermined quantities of a plurality of fluids used in a final mix, such as in blending expensive ingredients in critical hatching operations, automatically proportioning systems in ready mix concrete plants and others.

A rnajor factor contributing to inaccuracy of these meters, particularly at low flow rates, is the fact that as iluid ows through the meter, the nutating disc is thrust laterally toward the side of the chamber by virtue of the diiferential pressure which causes uid flow. The utility as Well as the user of the meter will benefit with a reduced pressure drop across the meter. It is an object of the invention to reduce allow energy loss through the meter to a minimum.

The relatively large diameter support ball engaging the spherical seat in the chamber presents a large obstruction to fluid flow and increases the pressure drop through the measuring chamber. Furthermore, in the present `meter designs the nutating disc assembly is comparatively heavy, that is, it usually has a Weight greater than the specific gravity of the Huid being metered. Accordingly, a gravitational force is exerted on the ball seat. As a result, a comparatively large torque is required to cause nutation due to the combined gravitational and iluid forces. By contrast, in accordance with the present invention, the disc assembly is preferably made of substantially the same specific gravity as the fluid being metered so that the gravitational pull or force is reduced to zero. Further, the lateral force due to liuid flow is reduced in accordance with the present invention by reason of the fact that the nutating disc assembly is mounted on a small diameter bearing ball presenting less obstruction to fluid ilow and therefore reducing the pressure drop in the measuring chamber. The net result is that the torque required to cause nutation is decreased and a greater measuring accuracy results at low flow rates.

The nutating torque Tm of a typical fluid meter may be expressed by hPaam/raw;

where pt1=coefficient of friction between the ball and its seat in the fluid being metered,

Rb-:radius of the nutating disc ball,

Fd=force due to differential pressure,

Fg=force due to differential of fluid and disc densities.

It is shown here that the nutating torque varies directly as the ball radius. Therefore, it is benecial to reduce this to a practical minimum and simultaneously reduce the component Fg to zero. The nutating torque T112 then becomes TnZZILZRpFd where a2=coefiicient of friction of disc material against the ball pivot in the fluid being metered, Rp=the radius of the ball pivot.

The advantage of a ball pivot with a small radius may be expressed as the ratio of the two torques Further, these fluid meters generally have a leakage path which is necessary and is defined by clearances between the nutating disc assembly and measuring charnber to prevent binding of the nutating disc in the measuring chamber. These clearances vary according to accumulation of manufacturing tolerances and also vary over a period of use due to wear of the parts.

Thus, even though the meter can be fairly accurately calibrated initially to compensate for the leakage path, over a period of use as the flow through the leakage path increases, the measuring accuracy of the meter is affected. In accordance with the present invention a selectively adjustable leakage compensator port is incorporated and provides a control means to compensate for normal manufacturing tolerances and wear, the flow area of the compensator port being selectively adjustable over a period of use so that the continued high accuracy of the meter may be maintained. The total flow Qt through the meter is then expressed by Qt=\/2GAP (AmCm'l-ALCL'i-Apcp) where G=acceleration due to gravity, APzdifferential pressure across the meter, Am=equivalent meter area, AL=equivalent leakage area, Ap=compensator port area, Cm=equivalent meter coefficient, CLzequivalent leakage coefficient, Cp=calibration port coefficient.

Ap is the only independent variable quantity in the eX- pression and is therefore a means of calibration.

Other features of the invention include the provision of a novel means for converting flow rate through the measuring chamber to the register including a magnet which is mounted on the register shaft and develops eddy currents as it rotates in a surrounding induction cup whose supporting shaft is biased with a hair spring. By this arrangement, flow through the measuring chamber affects rotation of the cup until the hair spring torque is equal to the magnetic torque. This balance point is a reading for the given flow rate.

These and other objects of the present invention and the various features and details of the operation and construction thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a side elevational view partly in section of a positive displacement `flow meter constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on lines 2-2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 2a is an enlarged sectional view of the leakage compensator port taken on lines Za--Za of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the details of the pivot mounting arrangement for the nutating disc;

FIG. 3a is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of the nutating disc;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on lines 4-4 of FIG. l showing the register face;

FIfG. 4a is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternate leakage compensator port;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines S-S of FIG. 4 showing the register mechanism;

FIG. 5a is a schematic illustration showing the gear train for actuating the counter registering total flow;

FIG. 6 is a plan view partly in section illustrating a pneumatic arrangement for remote reading and control of flow rate in a meter;

FIG. 7 is a sectional -view taken on lines 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view partly in section of the register assembly of a meter illustrating another feature of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an electrical schematic for the arrangement shown in FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. ll is a side elevational View partly in section of a register assembly of a meter incorporating another feature of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 .is a View taken on lines 12-12 of FIG. ll;

FIG. 12a is a view taken on lines 12a-12a of FIG. l2.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. l thereof, there is illustrated a positive displacement type fluid meter made in accordance with the present invention and which is generally designated by the numeral 10. The meter comprises a metal outer casing 12 having diametrically opposed inlet and outlet ports 14 and 16 respectively, a lower section 17 which houses the measuring chamber unit 19 and an upper section 20 separated from the lower section by a nonmagnetic dividing wall 21 which houses the sealed register assembly 23. The meter casing 12 is also provided with an access opening 25 in its bottom wall through which the measuring chamber unit 19 may be inserted into or removed from the casing, the opening 2S being closed by a cover 27 secured to the casing by a plurality of bolts screwed in tapped holes in bosses integral with the casing and circumferentially spaced about the access opening. The meter further includes a lid 33 hinged to the upper section 20 adapted to overlie transparent window 3S enclosing the dial plate 37. A frost plate liner 29 overlies the bottom cover 27 and has its outer peripheral edge tightly sealed by a circumferentially extending rib 31 adjacent the opening 25 in the periphery of the bottom wall of the meter casing. As illustrated in FIG. l, the edge 31a of the casing defining the opening 25 in the bottom wall thereof projects downwardly further than the rib 31 spaced inwardly from the edge 31a. By this arrangement there is a metal to metal contact of the cover 27 and edge 31a in the assembled relation which minimizes the danger of overstressing the lugs holding the cover in place and yet permits a tight seal between the cover and casing. The cover lugs coincide with and are of the same configuration as the lugs 15 integral with meter casing 12 in FIG. 2. The projection of the edge 31a beyond the rib 31 is preferably less than the thickness of the liner 29 to insure a tight seal.

The measuring chamber unit 19 comprises in the present instance an upper housing a and a lower housing 40b and a nutating disc piston 42 mounted in the measuring chamber consisting of a circular disc 44 and a pivot ball 46 central of the disc. The ball 46 mounts a stem 48 adapted to rotate a meter magnet 50 pivotally mounted on pivot 51 and retained and protected from stray magnetic fields by magnetic shield 53 and in turn eifects actuation of a register assembly 23 to measure ow rate and total flow. The upper housing 40a has a frustoconical wall 52 overlying a frusto-conical wall 54 of the lower section, the Walls converging toward the center of the measuring chamber, the upper and lower housing sections having curved sidewalls whereby the peripheral edge of the disc is disposed closely adjacent the sidewalls during nutating movement in the chamber. The lower housing section has an upstanding diaphragm 66 extending radially from the center of the measuring chamber and separating the inlet opening `67 and the outlet opening `68 in the sidewall of the measuring chamber, the disc 44 having a radial cutout `69 to straddle the diaphragm. Cutout `69 forms two contacting pads 71 and 71a as close to the center of nutation as feasible. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the measuring chamber assembly is spaced inwardly from the main casing to define an annular flow chamber which extends substantially the entire periphery of the measuring chamber assembly, the casing having inwardly directed wall portions 72 and 74 on opposite sides of the outlet port 16 which snugly contact the sidewalls of the measuring chamber unit so that the flow of fluid entering the inlet port 14 is directed to the inlet opening 67 in the measuring chamber. Annular opening 70 presents a fluid flow path free of obstruction thereby reducing the pressure drop. This is obtained by eliminating losses as in present meters. The measuring chamber unit 19 is seated and centered on a plurality of pads, two of which are shown at 18 and 18a. A strainer 76 is mounted in the flow passage or chamber 70 in front of the inlet port so that all fluid passing through the meter must pass through the strainer.

By this arrangement, as a fluid flows through the meter in the direction indicated by the arrow, the disc 44 is nutated which effects rotary movement of the stem 48 and in turn rotational movement of the meter magnet '50. As the meter magnet 50 rotates, the register magnet 78 in the sealed register assembly rotates which in turn effects rotation of the flow rate pointer 84 and counting pointer 86. Flow rate is indicated by pointer 84 which is secured to shaft V85 which mounts hairspring 87 and induction cup 88. The other end of the hairspring is secured to bracket 89. As register magnet 78 rotates cooperatively with meter magnet 50, it also rotates induction magnet 91 since they are mounted on the same shaft. It is polarized for inducing eddy currents in the hairspring biased induction cup 88 which rotates against hairspring 87 until the hairspring torque and the eddy current torques are equal for any flow rate within the meter range. The register assembly may also include a counter 90 to record total ow as explained in detail below.

It has been found that the particular configuration and mounting arrangement of prior nutating disc assemblies in meters of this type produce unreliable readings for ilow through the meter, particularly at low flow rates. The present invention provides a novel and improved nutating disc and mounting arrangement producing greater reliability and accuracy in meters of this type. To this end, the nutating piston assembly mounting arrangement comprises a two-piece pivot ball 46 comprised of an upper semispherical segment 93a and a lower segment 93h, the upper segment having a threaded bore 95 and the lower segment having a threaded stud 97 engageable in the bore. The ball sections have an internal spherical seat 99 which engage over a small ball pivot 101 having a stem 103 secured in the central portion of the lower housing section of the measuring chamber. The lower ball segment has an opening 105 therein to accommodate the stem 103 and permit the nutating motion of the disc. As illustrated in FIG. 3, by this arrangement the assembly pivots on the ball pivot 101 and there is a clearance between the ball segments 93a and 93h and the arcuate wall portions of the measuring chamber adjacent the pivot ball 46.

Further, the disc 42 is preferably made of a lightweight material and one chosen to be of the same specic gravity as the liuid being metered. As illustrated, the disc may be provided with an internal hollow groove 100 to reduce weight and this may be accomplished by the use of lightweight tubing 102 which is molded internally of the disc. By this arrangement, the gravitational pull or force of the assembly is reduced to zero, thus leaving only the lateral force due to fluid flow. This lateral force is reduced considerably since the bearing ball is of reduced diameter and the pivot ball mounting is spaced from the arcuate walls of the measuring chamber. This produces less obstruction to fluid flow therefore, reducing the pressure drop in the measuring chamber, the lateral thrust being against the small diameter ball pivot. The net result is a decrease in the torque required to cause nutation and hence a greater accuracy for measuring the uid ilow particularly at low flow rates.

In the present instance as best illustrated in FIG. 1 the centerline of the inlet and outlet ports 14 and 16 is substantially aligned with a plane through the center of the measuring chamber to minimize pressure drop across the meter.

FIG. 3a shows a modied form of a nutating piston assembly in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment the piston assembly includes a circular disc 142, and a pivot ball 144 comprising two segments 144a and 14417 which in the assembled relation have a circumferentially extending groove within which the disc 142 is supported` The segments of the pivot ball are held together by means of a screw element 146 and a nut 148, the screw element having a radial stem extension 150 which engages in a slot in the meter magnet assembly In this embodiment the pivot ball 144 engages the seat defined by the central portion of the walls of the measuring chamber, the disc assembly having substantially the same specific gravity as the fluid being metered. It is noted that in this arrangement the disc is also readily replaceable so that it may be interchanged when the meter is used for different types of fluid. By this arrangement as discussed above in detail, gravitational force is eliminated and thus, the meter operates more accurately particularly at low flow rates.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of means permitting easy and accurate calibration of the meter. Total iiow of uid through the meter generally takes two paths, one path through the measuring chamber and nutating disc assembly and the other path through leakage areas in the meter. The leakage areas are clearances between the outer peripheral edge of the nutating disc 42 and the curved side walls of the measuring chamber and also the clearances at the pivot ball, these clearances being provided to permit proper operation of the nutating disc 42. However, the total flow area of the leakage path varies from one meter to the next depending on the accumulation of manufacturing tolerances. To maintain the manufacturing tolerances for all of the meters within precise limits would be extremely costly. Flow through the leakage paths is taken into consideration in initial calibration of the meter, it being noted that the present practice is to employ register change gears or registers with variable gear trains for all meters. Of course, the result is that a stock of gears must be maintained for calibration of a plurality of meters where total flow through the leakage paths differ and the various meters have different accuracies. In accordance with the present invention, means is provided for precisely calibrating each meter after manufacture to provide high accuracy notwithstanding differences in the flow area through the leakage paths and also for recalibrating the meters after a period of use during which time the flow area of the leakage paths may change. To this end a compensator port 120 is provided in the wall 72 of the casing which communicates at one end with the flow chamber and at its other end with the discharge port 16. A cross port 124 intersects the compensator port and has an adjustable set screw 126 mounted therein which is selectively movable in the cross port to vary the flow area through the compensator port 120. The adjustable compensator port 120 in effect denes another branch of the leakage system which is selectively variable so that if the other branches of the leakage systern vary due to manufacturing tolerance of wear of parts, the total flow area of the leakage system may be maintained constant simply by varying flow area of the compensator port 120.

By this arrangement, the total flow path leakage for a plurality of meters having different manufacturing tolerances may be made uniform simply by adjusting the flow area through the compensator port 120. Further after a period of normal use, if the flow area of the normal leakage paths increases, the flow area through the leakage compensator port 120 may be reduced so that the measuring capacity is maintained accurate and reliable without changing the nominal leakage factor built into all of the meters.

A modified form of leakage compensator port is illustrated in FIG. 4a. In this embodiment the leakage cornpensator port is provided in an extended outer wall portion 131 of the measuring chamber sidewall separating the flow chamber 70 and the discharge port 16. The cross port 133 intersects the leakage compensator port 130, and an adjustable set screw 135 is mounted therein so that the flow area of the leakage compensator port 130 may be selectively varied.

Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of means for pneumatically reading flow rate of the meter at a remote location. To this end, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 there is provided a register magnet which cooperatively rotates with the meter magnet and drives induction magnet 191 inducing eddy currents in induction cup 188 and causing the induction cup to rotate against hairspring 187 which is secured to shaft 158 and thereby causes rotation of a segmental gear 170 pivotally mounted in the register housing which meshes with a small gear 171 on the pointer shaft 158, the segmental gear being connected by a connecting link 172 to one end of a pivotally mounted lever 174. The opposite end of the lever 174 mounts a range adjusting pin `176 which bears against a spring biased flapper 178. A nozzle 180 having a discharge opening confronting flapper 178 of the linkage is connected through a pneumatic line 184 in a manner well known in the art to a mechanism at a remote location for sensing pressure changes at the nozzle tip. By this arrangement, as the pointer shaft 158 rotates in response to increased uid flow through the meter, the segmental gear due to meshing relation with the pinion 171 rotates, for example, in a counterclockwise direction with respect to FIG. 6 which in turn effects pivotal movement of the lever 174 and flapper 178 thereby to vary the gap between the nozzle tip 180 and the apper 178. The resulting pressure change is fed back to penumatically positioned (means not shown) pivot 182 on which lever 174 is mounted. Pointer 192 mounted on shaft 158 indicates fluid flow rate, the shaft being rotated until the balance point of eddy current torques and hairspring torque is reached for any ow rate within the meter range. A remote mechanism senses the pressure change and in turn converts this to indicate the flow rates through the meter. The remote means may be adapted to control flow rate or by the addition of a variable set point 8 mechanism, control may be effected within the fluid meter by means well known in the art. The register is not sealed in this application.

There is illustrated in FIGS. 8-10 a meter generally designated by the numeral 200 incorporating still another feature of the present invention. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention there is provided a combined register and voltage generator which develops a voltage output proportional to flow rate which output may be transmitted to a voltmeter, millivolt meter, potentiometer or electronic data processing equipment at a remote location.

The meter 200 includes a metal outer casing 202 having a lower section (not shown) which houses a measuring chamber unit operatively connected to a meter magnet 204 and an upper section 206 separated from the lower section by a nonmagnetic dividing wall 208, the upper section housing the register assembly broadly designated by the numeral 210. The upper section includes a pointer 214 mounted on a rotatably mounted pointer shaft 216, operable to sweep a dial plate 212 to read amount of flow.

The shaft 216 mounts at its lower end the register magnet 218 which overlies the meter magnet 204 whereby rotation of the meter magnet effects rotation of the register magnet 218 and the pointer 214 to give a visual indication of total flow in cooperative relation with counter 90.

In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, there is provided a generator magnet 220 of ring-like form which overlies the register magnet and is positioned on the upper face of the disc 222 supporting the generator magnet and register magnet on the shaft 216. The gcnerator magnet 220, in the present instance, is a fourpole ring-type member made of permanent magnetic material whose upper face has diametrically opposed north poles and diametrically opposed south poles intermediate the north poles. In the present instance, four pick up coils 224, 226, 228 and 230 are mounted in a ring-like array on a support plate 232, the axis of the coils overlying the generator magnet as illustrated in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 10, successive coils are connected in opposite polarities and alternate coils are connected in the same polarity whereby the pulses are additive to produce a voltage in one direction. Thus, as the generator magnet 220 rotates relative to the fixed coils, a voltage is induced in the coils which through a suitable pick up such as a voltmeter may be converted to indicate the flow rate. It is noted that at increased speed of rotation of the generator magnet, more voltage is generated that is, the voltage output increases in the same sense with speed of rotation of the generator magnet.

Even though the arrangement shown in FIG. 10` is one wherein the voltages are additive and are alternating, the coils may be connected in a manner to produce direct current output.

There is illustrated in FIGS. ll and l2 another embodiment of the present invention incorporating means for reading total flow of a meter at a remote location.

The meter 300 includes a metal outer casing 302 having a lower section (not shown) which houses a measuring chamber unit operatively connected to a meter magnet 304 and an integrally or cooperatively mounted upper section 306 separated from the lower section by a nonmagnetic dividing Wall 308, the upper section housing the combined register assembly and voltage generator broadly designated by the numeral 310. The upper section includes a pointer 314 mounted on a rotatably mounted pointer shaft 316 operable to sweep a dial plate 312 to indicate total ow in combination `with a straight reading counter. The shaft 316 mounts at its lower end the register magnet 318 which overlies the meter magnet 304 whereby rotation of the meter magnet effects rotation of the register magnet 318 and the pointer 314 to give a visual indication of total flow.

In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, there is provided a plurality of coils 330 in the present instance, four coils mounted on a support plate 332 in the register and arranged in a circular array.

A generator magnet 334 overlies the coils and is of the four-pole ring-type. The generator magnet 334 is mounted for rotation relative to the coils by a gear train broadly designated bly the numeral 336 including a drive gear 338 carried by the shaft 316 and driven gear 340 rotatably supported on shaft 352 below the upper register plate 320, which as illustrated, meshes with the drive gear 338. The driven gear 340 is connected to the generator magnet through a coil spring 341 and in the present instance is freely rotatable on shaft 352. In this arrangement, the generator magnet 334, mounted on a disc 351 which in turn is secured to shaft 352, is restrained from rotating while, during flow of fluid through the meter, the spring 341 stores energy as the drive and driven gears are rotating in response to fluid flow. When the cam 350 which is also secured to shaft 316 is caused to rotate, it releases the generator magnet and the spring energy is released to rapidly rotate the generator magnet over the coils developing a voltage of sufficient magnitude and duration to operate a solenoid actuated counter which is mounted at a remote location and connected to the coils by a pair of shielded transmission wires. The arrangement may be connected for A.C. or D.C. operated solenoids. Further the compatible output of the coils may be used for electronic data processing systems for integrating, indicating and flow control functions.

At low fiow rates noise and other side effects might disturb an output signal requiring expensive transmission system whereas in the present instance slow flows through the meter are integrated and read at theremote read-out instantaneously and this system in effect eliminates the need for amplifiers.

The specific details of the means connecting lthe driven gear 340 to the generator magnet 334 is shown in FIG. 12a. As illustrated therein, the generator magnet 334 is mounted on a disc 351 which in turn is secured to shaft 352 rotatably journalled in upper register plate 320 and plate 332 centrally of the coils facilitating rotation of the generator magnet relative to the coils. As illustrated, one end of the coil spring 341 is connected to the driven gear 340 and the opposite end is connected to the disc 351. Thus, in operation if the drive gear 338 rotates in a clockwise direction, with respect to FIG. 12, driven gear 340 rotates counterclockwise and stores energy in coil spring 341 since the generator magnet assembly is restrained from rotation by trip lever 354 which engages stop pin 356 rigidly attached to disc 351. Trip lever 354 is secured to shaft 358 which mounts torsion spring 360, one end of which is attached to the trip lever and the other end is anchored to upper register plate 320. Trip lever 354 has a turned down extension 356a which rides on the land 364 of cam 350` which is secured to shaft 316 and rotates with the shaft in response to fluid flow.

After a predetermined quanity of fluid has passed through the meter the raised lug 366 on cam 350 contacts extension 356 on trip lever 354 causing it to allow spring 341 to unwind and rotate the generator magnet relative to the coils thereby inducing a voltage in the coils. In this period, the raised lug 366 has passed by extension 356al on the trip lever and allows the trip lever to partially rotate clockwise to restrain the magnet assembly until sufficient flow has passed through the meter for the next flow unit. This embodiment does not develop a minute voltage during the time that energy is being stored in spring 341.

Flow rate through the measuring chamber of the meter is related to the differential in inlet and outlet pressures. More specifically, flow rate is proportional to the square root of this differential pressure. Another feature of the present invention is the provision of pressure taps 400 and 402 in the meter line or in the spud connections whereby differential pressure instrumentation may be connected and used for transmission, control and electronic data processing functions in relation to flow rate and totalizing.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A fluid meter of the nutating disc type comprising a casing having a measuring chamber defined in part by spaced Walls each having an annular arcuate surface portion of predetermined radius cooperatively disposed to define in part a spherical zone in said measuring chamber, fluid inlet and outlet ports communicating with said measuring chamber, a nutating piston assembly mounted in said measuring chamber operable to nutate upon flow of fluid through the chamber, indicator means operatively connected to said nutating piston assembly to meter and indicate at least rate of flow through the chamber, means mounting said nutating piston assembly for nutating movement in said measuring chamber comprising a spherical member disposed in said zone and having an outer spherical surface of less radius than said arcuate surface portions of said walls to provide friction-free clearance between the surface of said spherical member and said arcuate surface portions of said walls, said spherical member having an internal spherical cavity defining a bearing seat, and a stationary ball pivot mounted in said cavity and constituting the sole support of said spherical member for free pivotal movement at the center of nutation whereby the outer spherical surface of said spherical member is .maintained in friction-free clearance relative to said arcuate wall portions of the measuring chamber.

2. A fluid meter as claimed in claim 1 including a diaphragm in said measuring chamber extending radially from the center thereof and wherein said nutating piston assembly includes a disc having a radial cutout to straddle the diaphragm including two contact pads operable to engage the diaphragm adjacent said spherical member of said nutating piston assembly.

3. A fluid meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said nutating piston assembly has approximately the same but not less than the specific gravity of the fluid being metered.

4. A fluid meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the piston assembly is of the oscillating piston type.

5. A fluid meter as claimed in claim 1 Iwherein said nutating piston assembly is constructed to have approximately the same and not less than the specific gravity of the fluid being metered and the indicator is driven by magnetic means.

6. A uid meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pivot member consists of two sections.

7. A fluid meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ball pivot includes a stem for securing the same in a stationary position in the measuring chamber.

8. A fluid meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer spherical surface has a diameter at least twice the diameter of the spherical bearing seat to provide a comparatively small surface-to-surface contact between the pivot member and ball pivot.

9. A fluid meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said nutating piston assembly includes a disc having mounted therein hollow tubing to rigidify the disc and provide a nutating disc assembly having approximately the same but not less than the specific gravity of the fluid being metered.

10. A fluid meter as claimed in claim 1 including a diaphragm of uniform thickness in said measuring chamber extending radially from the center thereof and wherein said nutating disc assembly includes a disc having a radial cutout to straddle the diaphragm including two contact pads of reduced cross section operable to engage the diaphragm adjacent said spherical member of saivd nutatng piston assembly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Lambert 73-258 5 Larrabee 73-258 Urkewitz 73-258 Pennink 73-258X Eck et al. 73258X Lambert 73-258X 10 12 Trefr et al. 73-258 Brette 73--258 Curtiss et al. 73-258 Davies 73-258X Patch 73-258X Ryder 73-258 Dayton 73-258X Bassett 73-258 JAMES I. GILL, Primary Examiner 

